Glass microspheres on road marking, Tauranga, and letter to TCC

[Old Steve]

Today I saw glass microspheres used on new road markings and how these are a danger to bikers. These were on the corner of McLean St and The Strand, downtown Tauranga. I rang the Tauranga City Council and reported the hazard at around 9.30 am today.

I have also written a letter to the council, note the reference to council liability. I found the idea of liability often moved mountains when I worked in the corporate world.

Dear Sirs,

Road Safety Hazard

I am a motorcyclist, and the motorcycling community has recently become aware of a new hazard particularly affecting motrcyclists and bicyclists.

When road markings are applied to the road, microspheres of glass are now being sprinkled onto the paint to increase the reflectivity of the markings.. However, when these glass microspheres are applied there is considerable overspread and an area of loose glass microspheres are left either side of the road marking. These glass microsheres are like ball bearings, and are particularly dangerous to motorcycles and bicycles

Today, Friday 11th March, I contacted the Council Office to report a dangerous condition where road markings had been applied on the corner of McLean St and The Strand. Glass microsheres had been sprinkled onto the newly applied road marking paint, and excess glass microspheres were lying on either side of the road marking. One would assume that if a motorcyclist were injured because of this hazard, then the contractor and Council would be liable due to negligence.

I would suggest that if glass microsheres are to be continued to be used on road markings, that it should be written into the application contract that excess glass microspheres must be removed by vacuuming by the contractor. I would suggest that brushing would not remove all of the glass microspheres, leaving a dangerous road condition to motorcyclists and bicyclists. Council staff should also inspect the road after road marking involving the use of glass microspheres to ensure the road is in a safe and usable condition.

Yours sincerely

I am posting this as a record of Tauranga City Council's knowledge of the hazard in case any local bikers comes to grief on the glass marbles.

[Squiggles]

Got a pic of what they look like?

[Old Steve]

No, didn't have a camera phone, and haven't been back since. There's another thread on this subject currently running on this page of General Bike Ravings, and pictures of this menace are available there.

I really only wanted to post this as a record of TCC knowing about the danger.

[Deano]

It seems when the beads are spread by hand and not the nozzle, excessive amounts can be applied, in addition to overspray.

Excessive amounts on the painted lines probably the bigger risk, (as found by Spyda)overspray on chip seal will soon settle between ridges.

[hellokitty]

No, didn't have a camera phone, and haven't been back since. There's another thread on this subject currently running on this page of General Bike Ravings, and pictures of this menace are available there.

I really only wanted to post this as a record of TCC knowing about the danger.

I hit some of these today and it was literally like riding on marbles, bloody ridiculous!

[Ocean1]

It would be easy to underestimate how slippery these wee fuckers are. I used to work around the stuff, occasional spills damned soon enlightened me, it's literally like walking on ice.

It weighs bugger all too, wind or rain will spread it far and wide...

[NONONO]

Good on yer for doing something about it.
Was down the East Coast for most of last week and the roads are simply lethal.
Coming over the ranges from Taupo to Napier, gravel everywhere, not pretty.
Oh and avoid the last cafe at Tarawera Summit Cafe on the Napier Taupo road. Couple of Harley riders had not gassed up before leaving Napier. Gassed up at the Summit Cafe and got charged $5.50 per litre, minimum sale of 10 litres. $55 per bike!
And the hot chocolate was by all accounts dishwater.
Get you every way eh?

[Okey Dokey]

I question whether this technology is even necessary. Do the road markings need to be blindingly bright and more reflective? They seem very visible to me already. I have wondered in the past about the reflectivity of some newer road signs. They almost seem to ruin your night vision because they reflect so strongly into your darkness accustomed eyes.

[Old Steve]

I've had contact with someone from Tauranga City Councils roading dept. He was going to the site to see what had happened. Hewas very receptive to my suggestion that conditions should be inserted in the applicator's contract that excess glass beads should be removed by the contractor.

If anyone sees oversray of these glass beads anywhere, please contact your council roading department and draw the hazard to their attention.

Use the phrase "that the council and its contractor would surely be liable if a motorcyclist or bicyclist were injured in an encounter with these glass beads". Councils understand and react to the word "liability".

[ajturbo]

thanks for the heads up there..

[Smifffy]

I've had contact with someone from Tauranga City Councils roading dept. He was going to the site to see what had happened. Hewas very receptive to my suggestion that conditions should be inserted in the applicator's contract that excess glass beads should be removed by the contractor.

If anyone sees oversray of these glass beads anywhere, please contact your council roading department and draw the hazard to their attention.

Use the phrase "that the council and its contractor would surely be liable if a motorcyclist or bicyclist were injured in an encounter with these glass beads". Councils understand and react to the word "liability".

I wonder if McSacs would be interested in this issue? I guess we will never know; I can't even find a contact for them, maybe I could tack a note to the back of a galapagos turtle and hope it washes up in Gareth's swimming pool.

[ajturbo]

I wonder if McSacs would be interested in this issue? I guess we will never know; I can't even find a contact for them, maybe I could tack a note to the back of a galapagos turtle and hope it washes up in Gareth's swimming pool.

well... at least we know that would work...

[avgas]

I wonder if McSacs would be interested in this issue? I guess we will never know; I can't even find a contact for them, maybe I could tack a note to the back of a galapagos turtle and hope it washes up in Gareth's swimming pool.

Put a note on your kiwi saver payment - Its Gareth's equivalent to the bat signal.

However I would like to know why they are using spheres rather than glass chips/fragments....... seems a bit stupid on a road.
bloody things are bound to roll off their designated space.

[riffer]

Please read here.

Just because you don't get told officially doesn't mean people aren't working hard behind the scenes to help you all.

This is in reference to the recent glass bead incident in Lower Hutt spyda alerted us to.

[Smifffy]

Please read here.

Just because you don't get told officially doesn't mean people aren't working hard behind the scenes to help you all.

This is in reference to the recent glass bead incident in Lower Hutt spyda alerted us to.

Cool, just a note though:

If you don't tell us, don't be surprised that we don't know.

I still think that this is something McSacs could take up on a national level though, so that it doesn't come down to individual operators in individual companies taking responsibility.

I'm glad something is being done about the Welly case, let's hope the Tauranga case gets a similar outcome.